2012 New York UPDATED: Fisker Atlantic Prototype Revealed In All Its Glory

The Fisker Karma is no longer an only child now that the Fisker Atlantic, the first variant spawned from Project Nina, is being unveiled in prototype form at the New York auto show. Project Nina is Fisker's latest attempt to attract more buyers to the brand, bringing forth three more affordable new cars. The Atlantic gives us an idea of what Fisker may have up its sleeve for the remaining pair. Here are some facts we've gleaned from executives on the auto show floor:

The car is said to be roughly the size of a European-market four-door hatchback Audi A5 Sportback inside and out, which means that, relative to the Karma, the Atlantic is about 10 inches shorter in length, 5 inches narrower, and over 2 inches taller (this seems doubtful, as the roofline looks equally svelte). Despite these tidier exterior dimensions, interior volume is said to expand from the Karma’s subcompact to the A4/A5 Sportback’s compact rating. This suggests the next-generation battery pack is considerably smaller, though Fisker execs remain tight-lipped about powertrain specifics (other than the Atlantic’s range-extending engine: which is to be the 2.0-liter turbo four from BMW’s 328 and X1).

Pricing is also expected to fall within the 3-series A5/S5 range, so even if you assume that includes the M3 and RS5, the Atlantic will sell at a deep discount relative to the Karma.

The front lighting is designed to look like light shining through ice cubes. Fisker claims its source is not an LED array, but rather an entirely new technology his team is not yet ready to disclose.

Fisker claims to have delivered over 700 cars throughout its 43-strong U.S. dealer network, with more arriving every day. Sales are just beginning in Europe, where the company has 40 dealerships, and a partnership with China Grand Auto will give Fisker access to a handful (25 or so) of China Grand’s 380 dealers.

While details on the Atlantic's plug-in hybrid powertrain haven’t been released, Fisker said it will mirror the Karma’s Electric Vehicle with extended range (EVer) setup. Also like the Karma, the Atlantic will feature a gas-powered range extender and, while not official, the range extender is expected to be a four-cylinder engine sourced from BMW. The Karma currently uses a 235-hp, 2.0-liter turbocharged direct-injected four-cylinder engine sourced from General Motors. However, unlike the Karma, Fisker says the Atlantic will be offered with an all-wheel-drive option.An on-sale date hasn’t been determined, but production is slated to begin by the end of this year. Want more on the Fisker Atlantic? Check out our full First Look article HERE.